I am currently developing websites and apps using xhtml/css/js/prototype.js/vb6(com dll)/asp/sql server 2000/2005. All apps are hosted on windows, and I built a custom CMS server for staff and clients to manage site data and content.

I have finally (long overdue) decided to move away from microsoft products and OSs, and move to Linux. I need some advice as to which technologies and platforms I should learn and move to, so as to continue my current services on this new platform.

I am checking out ModXCMS - which looks very promising as a standards-compliant, intuitive, portable, Linux-based CMS replacement. Obviously Apache and mySql are current favorites for web/database server.

My trouble is understanding what technologies to use to replace our custom server components. Current we use a custom windows DLL library component (commonly used functionality such as database, email, filesystem, sorting, arrays etc etc), written using Visual Basic 6, and ASP is used as the server script language that uses the DLL to communicate with the database.

I am REALLY interested in open source, and am currently considering Ruby on Rails as the server framework. My concern with this product though is that the processing is all scripted/interpreted (AFAIK) - I like the performance scaleability of using binary components - can a scripted solution really work as well?

I have also considered Real Softwares' RealBasic product, which allows an easy transition for VB6 programmers to a .NET style dev environment, that is cross platform (this I really like). However some reviews of Real Software have reservations about the future of this product.

I need a framework that will continue to grow in quality/success, that allows me to develop server/web apps on a Linux platform (cross-platform would be better, but not essential), and something that is not a huge learning curve for an out-dated VB6/ASP developer :)

fridom, thanks for your comment. There are many solutions that I _could_ try. I want to get expert advice from people that have tried and understand these products to help indicate the best likely solutions, before I actually try something out, otherwise I could potentially waste a lot of time.

Scalability is indeed a concern at this point. I don't want to recruit developers and create project plans, document specs and waste valuable money, just to find out that the solution is not scalable... :)

TheFoot

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